A second person has died in connection with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Health Department.
“We are heartbroken to learn that another New Yorker has lost their life to Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side,” NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin wrote in a statement on July 18. “Our deepest condolences are with their loved ones as they grieve.”
The identity of the person was not released.
There have been 72 reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease as of July 18, nine people are in the hospital, and 50 others have been discharged, according to the Health Department.
The disease can have symptoms similar to those of pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms can develop two to 14 days after being exposed, the CDC stated.
“While we mourn this loss, the data are also encouraging,” Martin said. “Our aggressive strategy of testing, enforcement, and remediation appears to have stopped the source of exposure.”
The Health Department said there was “fewer than one new case per day” between July 10 and July 17, down from the average of eight cases per day between July 2 and July 8.
The number of cases peaked on July 7, according to data by the Health Department.
New York City health officials directed all buildings with an initial positive test result to clean and disinfect cooling towers as soon as possible, which they report was completed over the weekend.
“We have also reminded cooling tower operators across the city of their summertime requirement to increase use of biocides that kill Legionella bacteria,” Martin said. “We will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive and will hold accountable any owner who fails to comply with our public health laws.”
Health officials urge anyone who spent time in the ZIP codes of 10028, 10075, and 10128 to immediately get a medical evaluation if they develop flu-like symptoms.
Popular landmarks in the ZIP codes include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carl Schurz Park, FDR Dr, Kaufmann Concert Hall, and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on July 7 that additional emergency measures were taken to respond to the Legionnaires’ Disease community cluster in the neighborhood east of Central Park.
“When there’s a public health threat, New Yorkers deserve urgency and transparency from their government,” Mamdani said. “That’s why we’re using every tool available to protect people by moving quickly to identify potential sources of exposure, requiring immediate remediation and making sure New Yorkers have the information they need to keep themselves and their families safe.”
More than 100 Health Department staffers are investigating the outbreak.
